Beginning as Grant Manager

I, Magdalena Mendez, Grant Manager, joined the Title V Project team on February 8, 2011. The first week I received the University’s documents for employees at the Human Resources Office; met with the Project Director and most of the Administrative Team; saw the Offices at IPEDCO Building where part of the Team will work at; met and received information from personnel of the Library, Budget Office, Finance Office, Procurement Office, Academic Affairs Dean Office, Information Technology Office, and other administrative personnel; and also started some required administrative processes (ID, parking permit, office keys, email account). 

I received information about the Project’s approved budget difference of $20,000 less of the proposed budget; administrative personnel different start dates; proposed equipment that doesn’t need to be funded by the project; and plans to consider various alternatives for the monitoring system of the project. I participated in a monitoring system product demonstration meeting with most of the Project Team. 

Due to different start dates of the Administrative Personnel, and equipment needs there will be available funds to satisfy other needs of the Project that were identified by the Project Director. 

I asked certain fiscal information to the University’s Human Resources Office and the Budget Office, in order to determine the total amount of Administrative Personnel Salary and Fringe Benefits funds available to transfer to other Budget categories. 

I have searched for information about scanners, OCR software programs, PC Headsets with microphones, External Hard Disk Drives, Professional Development Conferences (AHEAD, eLearningdevcon, University Center for the Advancement of Teaching, OSU, and others). I have submitted Purchase orders for a Scanner with OCR program, Headsets with microphones, and for an External Hard Disk Drive. I am doing a survey among the Project Team personnel for an office supplies purchase order. I submitted a request for a transfer of funds from the Administrative Personnel Salary category to other budget categories to cover various under budgeted costs. 

We learned that Professional Development trips that were not in the proposal need the approval of the Program Officer for funding. 

I watched a USDE webinar on Internal Controls for ARRA funded Programs and other Federal funded programs.